*How to Get a CGC 9.8 In Sequential Style*

This is where I take time from my busy life to be a Good Samaritan or " When Pop Colony becomes the Fangirl version of Oprah".

Fanboys it is time for some of you to face a fashion intervention.
Part 1: Take out one of your fave t-shirts and add...

Part 2: Nice Jeans (Quality jeans with a good fit)
• Really it is all about fit. You don’t need Coco Chanel to tell you that fit is everything when it comes to style. That’s why tailors are the superheroes of our world. I bet Topher’s Venom would agree that with great quality comes great fit. Investing in some top quality jeans will really work wonders for your look. I recommend Seven For All Mankind Jeans because they don’t look ridiculous (cough*TRUE RELIGION*cough) and they make your ass look all Mr. Fantastic. (Beware-the comic book puns don't end there!)
• BTW if you have a sour attitude and say something like “I’m not going to pay that much for jeans!” please take the time to realize that you’d gladly spend the same amount on some foil-retailer incentive-pencil sketch-blessed-by-Stan Lee-variant cover of X-Men #122 or some ridiculous Mary Jane statue. Oh and by the way the same place where you would get that rare issue is also a great place to save a lot of money on new jeans. Yes that place is called eBay. Laissez-Faire saves the day again!!!
• Variant 1- James Jeans- For a punny nod to an awesome artist!
• Variant 2- Joe’s Jeans- These just look fantastic. And they have this sort of steampunk-ish quality to them because of their industrial look.
• Variant 3- Diesel. Diesels require a lot more caution during the selection process or you’ll end up looking like Eurotrash. Not that that’s a bad thing. It just won’t work with the rest of the outfit. Plus you might be giving off mixed signals when you go into Ultimate Colossus-friendly neighborhoods. Because you know nobody likes a tease!

Part 3: Adidas Gazelles
• Here’s another investment piece. These sneakers never ever go out of style. They’re simple and classic. And most importantly they go with pretty much everything. They’re like the Kelly bag of sneakers but without the waiting list/promised first born (well unless you’re in Japan where all bets are off!)
• Variant 1: Vans Slip Ons- Another classic sneak that can be as simple (one color) or complex (crazy ass print) as you want them to be.
• Variant 2: I’m hesitant to recommend Chuck Taylors since the emo kids have taken it as their personal mission to really sully their appeal. But if impeccably maintained these sneaks can look super smart. And if you succeed in keeping them clean they really can go with everything- even nice dress pants. (Thanks Club Monaco!)

Part 4: Plain Gap Hoodie
• I endorse the Gap Hoodie mostly because on average it will run you less than one at American Apparel and because you won't have to deal with as many hipsters with androgynous self-christened names like Sky.
• Variant 1: American Apparel- AA carries hoodies in boatloads of colors which is good since variety is the spice of life.
• Variant 2: Old Navy- As long as you stick with the solids you’ll do fine. But do remember it is all about fit.


Here's a cheat sheet for ya:
Your T-Shirt + [(Nice Jeans) + (Adidas Gazelles) + (Plain Gap Hoodie)] = CGC 9.8 In Sequential Style.


Civilian Attire-(For those days not spent at Cons or that don't begin with Wednes)
For those days when you want to give yourself an air of mystique substitute your fave Fanboy shirt for a fun & colorful polo shirt or a nice short sleeve button-up in pale pink. Everybody loves some irony!




Note: The reason I’ve aimed this at guys is because I really have seen some crimes against humanity (well at least to my retnas) committed by some Fanboys. But this look is definitely uni-sex. And all of the brand suggestions have both women’s and men’s lines.

This has been a public service announcement by POP COLONY

The Best News I've Heard All Week!!!

Guess what is going to be out just in time for my birthday?????

Fanboys!!!!

According to ever so reliable IMDB the release date has been set for January 14, 2008. From the clips I saw at Comic-Con this movie looks awesomely hilarious. Because who doesn't love Laura Dern??? I really wish I had a Yoda backback so I could make all the fanboys in the theater jealous. I guess I'll just have to make do with my Yoda pillow.

Here's the trailer released a long time ago....

BTW: I really hope Heroes fanboys aren't in attendance or there is going to be a major rumble!

What You'll Be Getting Me For Christmas-The TCM Blanket

TCM has fantastic programming themes every day & night. Tonight they're celebrating the films of Claude Rains, which means I won't be moving off my couch for a couple of hours (<---So this TCM Fleece Blanket would totally come in handy!). Claude Rains was a frequent co-star of Pop Colony ICON Bette Davis. Every picture they did was melodramatic gold! My personal favorite being Now, Voyager since make-overs always make for a good movie (unless Julia Roberts is in it). And the whole month of December is dedicated to Irene Dunne whose films with Cary Grant (My Favorite Wife & The Awful Truth-particularly) are among the greatest screwball comedies ever made. Not to mention that they'll be showing Holiday programming such as Christmas in Connecticut (Barbara Stanwyck), White Christmas (Bing Crosby & Danny Kaye), Holiday Affair (Robert Mitchum- it's so much fun to see a film noir icon in a holiday rom-com!), & The Bishop's Wife (Cary Grant being as charming as ever!). Did I mention that a nice TCM Fleece blanket would come in handy right now since it's 30F/-1C ?

Saturday Night Hotties!!!-Golden Age Edition

Gentle readers I love old movies and I will kindly yet sternly shove them down your throat until you realize what bad people the production execs that give Brett Ratner & McG money to make 'movies' are. So it should come to no surprise that TCM is the Official Film School of POP COLONY. There you will learn from the masters: Lubitsch, Cukor, Hitchcock, Wyler, Curtiz, Huston, Ford, Zimmerman, Wilder, and the list really does go on. The tuition is manageable and there's a whole lot less pretentiousness than NYU!

Saturday nights on TCM are especially educational because of The Essentials . Robert Osbourne and Carrie Fisher sit around and chat about one essential movie. BTW Robert Osbourne is my hero. He knows everything about film history but isn't damn pretentious about it. He loves movies and he wants you to love them too. Which is definitely the philosophy here at Pop Colony.
So tune in every Saturday night 8pm ET/5pm PT & get learned!

This month's The Essentials Hotties
12/8 Notorious- Cary Grant














12/15 The Adventures of Robin Hood -Errol Flynn











12/22 Born Yesterday -William Holden













12/29 Red River- Montgomery Clift

Friday's Hotties are on The Ten Spot!

All of the Friday hotties are on shows that air at 10pm (Eastern/Pacific) so you better get a TiVo/DVR/VCR/DVD-R (& Cable) to catch all their hottness!

David Krumholtz-Numb3rs CBS 10PM
Here I go again with another hot TV Geek but this one's got tenure! And extra points to David for being part of the Whedonverse. Oh and that curly hair!










Clinton Kelly-What Not To Wear TLC 10pm
Stacey really gets on my nerves sometimes but thankfully Clinton is there to save the day! Clinton always keeps it real with the style-ignorant leading them to closets with less Lululemon and more BCBG. One day I hope to have a show that's a hybrid of What Not To Wear and Deadwood. Meaning that it'll be a show with a lot of harsh yet constructive criticism and a lot of cursing with a probability of violence.

James Roday-Psych USA 10pm
Let's do a proof! James = (Funny)(Attractiveness) = Hottie. James provides a fabulous alternative to those awful American Apparel ads by strutting in their swag on Psych week after week without looking like a tool. Plus James gets extra Texas points for being from the Big S.A.

Dulé Hill: The man is an awesome tap dancer! I do not need to say more than that! Well except to say look at Adam Garcia. Mmm.

Disclaimer: I'm not considering Jason Dohring since my soul can't bear to watch something so horrible as Moonlight.

¡¡¡METEORO!!!

Manga to me means everything is "Over the Top". Thank god The Wachowskis see it my way since they're making Speed Racer like an even bigger LSD trip than Tim Burton's Willy Wonka. Can't wait to see this one!

Thursday's TV Hotties!!!

Let's take a look at why they call Thursday night programming MUST SEE TV...
The Men of Ugly Betty-ABC 8PM
Eric Mabius-He's just the Adonis of Thursday night. No one is going to argue that he's not is scorching hot. No one. Not even Resident Evil haters.






Max Greenfield-Even if you're not a fan of Veronica Mars (first off shame on you!) you've got to watch the episodes with Deputy Leo. Gotta love a man in uniform! Thank God that this week they gave him considerably more screen time on UB!






Christopher Gorham-Buffy Alum:Check! Incredibly ripped under that sweater vest:Check! Plays an adorable geeky accountant:Check! It has been such a long time since Popular. Glad you're back Christopher!






30 Rock NBC 8:30PM
Keith Powell-Another man looking good on TV with his sweater vests. Thankfully we'll be getting to see more of Keith this season since he's been upgraded to regular.









The Office NBC 9PM
John Krasinski- I simply cannot walk past a GAP without staring at John's poster. Maybe one day I'll work up the courage to watch License to Wed.









Smallville CW 8PM
Aaron Ashmore- Aaron & Shawn are the only Canadian twins that do not have luxury denim labels (I'm talking to you Dean & Dan and Chip & Pepper!!!). So big Kudos to them. Aaron makes Jimmy Olsen look good! BTW I hope that you've caught on by now that I love men in sweater vests.





Michael Cassidy- I really miss seeing Michael as big bad Cliff on CW's summer series Hidden Palms. RIP Hidden Palms! Though I am loving him as snarky Daily Planet Assistant Editor Grant Gabriel. And due to a shocking revelation in the last episode he may be coming into some serious moulin rouge.



Supernatural CW 9PM
Jensen Ackles- This really is a case where a picture is worth a thousand words. Those words all being synonymous with HOT. Plus bonus points for being Texan!!!








Jared Padalecki-Same as above plus some Gilmore Girls Dean love. [On a Casting Couch note: I can't believe I didn't think of Jared when 'casting' Lone Ranger!!!]







The Thursday Guest Star
James Marsters (Smallville & Without a Trace-CBS 10PM)
Season 6 of Buffy. That is all the hottie documentation you need. I am eagerly anticipating his guestage on Torchwood in Jan where he'll be bringing back his much loved (& missed) POME accent while getting frisky with CPW's John Barrowman!

Wednesday's Hotties...not in an Addams Family way

Christmas Comes Early!

For one week I'll be taking you on a tour of the best Eye Candy TV has to offer. Really it's just an excuse for me to post some pics of hotties. Feel free to comment if you think I've unfairly passed someone over.

Lee Pace [Aries]: Pushing Daisies 8PM ABC- Pushing Daisies wins the Pop Colony Gold Star © for Best New Series of 2007 (with flying colors if I may add). One of the reasons why it's one of the best shows around is because of its excellent casting. I mean come on they've got CHENO!!! Yet it's the adorably awkward portrayal of Pie Maker Ned by Lee Pace that makes me giddy from anticipation week after week (let's not forget entrepreneurial guys who can cook=hot!). And on a fashion forward note- Ned is one of the best dressed characters on TV with his steady stream of Helmut Lang and Prada. BTW I can't wait to see him with Pop Colony Certified Icon SMG in Addicted (which might come out sometime in the spring). Lee gets extra points in my book for growing up in my hometown of Houston, Texas too!

Damian Lewis [Aquarius]: Life 10PM NBC-I really wish Damian would be his ginger self and keep his sexy accent when he's stateside. I'm still kind of not totally sold on Life but I do find myself tuning in week after week (sort of like Dirty Sexy Money). But maybe I'm being so hard on the show because I'm part of the camp that loves Damian as a baddie like in the good old MPT: Forsyte Saga days. [Support your local PBS station!]




The Men of CSI:NY 10PM CBS
Gary Sinise [Pisces]-He's like 1000 and still smokin' hot. That it really all I need to say on the matter. Oh and he's the face of Baume & Mercier. Gotta love a man with Swiss on his wrist!








Carmine Giovinazzo [Virgo]- My favorite character on the show (please forgive me Gary!). And he passes (with flying colors) my 'Looks Excellent in a Wife-Beater & Henley' test.










Eddie Cahill [Capricorn]- So hot that I'll overlook his stint on Friends.








Hill Harper [Gemini]- Mmm...a hottie and Harvard Law alumnus? Oh yeah like that's not super hot.














A.J. Buckley- I love me a geek. And Mr.Buckley plays techie geek Adam Ross brilliantly!

What I learned at Toys"R"Us-Marrying Patricia Arquette Makes You Vengeful

I really hope that this is the work of someone at Marvel with a wicked sense of humor. Because pairing action figures of Patricia Arquette's ex-husband and her current husband for children 3+ to play with is absolutely brilliant. Kudos to whoever at Marvel put it together!

And if you were wondering (and if you weren't you may want to reevaluate your life) what else handsome gents Thomas Jane and Nicolas Cage have in common...

• Both have January birthdays (birthstone:garnet)
• Both starred in Face/Off (or what many consider the greatest movie ever made)
• Both were at Comic-Con this year (awkward!)

and

Both are currently involved with comic book projects. Mr.Jane is the cover model for Criminal Macabre:My Demon Baby @ Dark Horse (and in early talks to star in the movie adaptation) and Mr.Cage & offspring are producing Voodoo Child @ Virgin Comics. (I confess that I actually picked up the first issue of CM:MDB simply because Thomas Jane was on the cover. And Voodoo Child is on my pull list even though Nic's mug doesn't grace the cover. But it's definitely a great book worth checking out.)

One More Day??!?!?!?! (And I'm not talking about Spidey!)

According to my local comic book shop books won't be in until THURSDAY (at least in Vancouver) due to the weather. I swear sometimes I feel like we live in the Yukon! That means that I'll have to wait one more day to read the end of BKV's arc on Buffy! And on the other things I like...

Buffy #9
Northlanders #1
Vinyl Underground #3
Dynamo 5 #9
The Sword #3
Suburban Glamour #2
Uncanny X-Men #493
The Order #5

(which is why i'll be slipping these into my pumpkin spice lattes--->)

[Note: Those of you in S. WA & N.BC stay safe and dry!]

I Just Can't Get Enough...of the POWERS PERSONALS!

If you're wondering what the guys you see at comic book shops & cons are *into* you definitely need to check out the Powers Personals. The thread is what I imagine a sex offender database to look like. So of course it is ridiculously funny. No really, I end up hyperventilating every time. Well sometimes that's due to the funny but most of the time it's due to the unabashed (read:disturbing) depravity. So if that sounds like your cup of tea head over to the message board and peruse at your discretion. Oh and if you're wondering why they're called the Powers Personals it's because they are printed in the back pages of Bendis & Oeming's Powers (out on ICON/MARVEL). I actually end up reading the Personals before the issue itself. Ah laughter at the expense of others is by far the most satisfying comedy!

Here's one of my favorites from the back of #27. Mostly because he managed to amass a list of interests that closely resembles my "I'll hate you forever if you like..." list.

NaughTibbittz

Man muffin of 26 years seeks opposite of loneliness in Portland, OR. I like Garfield, William Shatner, Warren Ellis, and U2, in that order. I rub my nipples in public and sing The Exposition Song in the shower. I'm a writer/artist, which means I have no money. Boston Legal is the best show on TV since they cancelled Veronica Mars and Studio 60. I call blueberries "bluebs". Powers is not one of my favorite books, so this will never see print. Cheers, dollfaces.

What You'll Be Getting Me For Christmas-Gilmore Girls: The Complete Series

I really miss this show a lot. I miss the whip-lash inducing dialogue and the mother-daughter camaraderie that makes you want to call your mom. But I especially miss this show every time I see a promo for Heroes. Oh Milo how far you've fallen! You used to be on a show with something more important than characters with phenomenal powers and that's PHENOMENAL WRITING! Let's not also forget that this show also gave us Texan hottie, Jared Padalecki! Needless to say GG's contributions to the world have been numerous.

Unlike Buffy, I really don't see GG Season 8 coming to a comic shop near-you anytime soon. Though if it ever did happen I would look forward to reading a comic book the size of a phone book every month since that's how big the book would have to be to get all the Gilmorian dialogue that we know and love. A girl can dream, can't she?

*CYLON in the City*

Everyone's favorite Cylon/Canada's Next Top Model Host Tricia Helfer graces the cover of this week's Georgia Straight (One of Vancouver's many gratuit weeklies)! Tricia's got a new movie called 'Walk All Over Me' coming out where she plays a dominatrix [insert Fanboys' gleeful squeals here]. Unfortunately for the Yankee Fanboys it probably won't be coming to a theater-near-you since it's pure Can-Con. Oh and Wicker Girl Leelee Sobieski is in it too!-That probably didn't require an exclamation but I'm still freaked out by her appearance in Wicker Man.
Don't cry fanboys at least you can *read* the interview (with picture!) for free over at the Georgia Straight.

Rebecca Romijn *IS* Madame Mirage...well at least BEBE thinks so!!!

Personally I've always thought of BEBE as the TOP COW of mall fashion with their "T & A All The Way" philosophy so really this was just bound to happen. I mean really all they would have to do is give Rebecca her X-3 Mystique dye job and the movie would basically shoot itself. Don't fret fanboys and girls even though Rebecca doesn't have the leather shrug on that Madame Mirage is sporting I'm pretty sure BEBE produced it circa Fall 2005. (Don't ask me why I know all this sh*t just be glad that you don't have to.)

Haiku Reviews for November 21st-Part 2

The Umbrella--ella-ella-eh-eh-eh Academy #3 (Ok, I got that out of my system finally!!!)
W: Gerard Way
A: Gabriel Bá
Cover: James Jean

Another great read
So much family drama
Wonderful art too!



The Lone Ranger #10
W: Brett Matthews
A: Sergio Cariello
Cover: John Cassaday

John's got his demons
Evil journeys to Texas?
Great as usual




Catwoman #73
W: Will Pfeifer
A:David Lopez, Alvaro Lopez, Jeremy Cox

Is Catwoman back?
Will Selina lose it all?
Already want more





Checkmate #20
W: Greg Rucka
A: Joe Bennett, Jack Jadson

The fall of the Wall!
Midnight mystery Meta?
The crème of the crop!





New X-Men #44/Messiah Complex Chapter 4
W: Craig Kyle, Chris Yost
A:Humberto Ramos, Carlos Cuevas, Edgar Delgado

The Kids join the fight
Jamie and Layla still lost
MC really good!

WHITEOUT is NOT the Follow-Up to Britney's Blackout

Oni Press just posted the new poster to the film adaptation to Greg Rucka & Steve Lieber's Whiteout. I'm so unbelievably excited for this movie because Whiteout is one of my favorite comic books ever. Why? Glad you asked!

1. It is impossible not to love main gal Carrie Stetko. She's a US Marshall (á la Tommy Lee Jones) assigned to patrol one of the most isolated places on earth, Antarctica. She's definitely got her own issues and personal demons but that's part of what makes her so riveting. And let's not forget that she's smart, cynically witty, and can kick serious ass in the harshest conditions. But I think the good folks at Artbomb put it best -"Buy it because Carrie Stetko's mouthy, freckled, and cool..." [Which by the way also describes yours truly to a T.] Hopefully Kate Beckinsale will do our girl Carrie some justice. Even though I feel from the casting that they're going more for a Glamazon look for Carrie (as evidenced by the Frederic Fekkai highlights Kate is sporting in the poster). If Kate pulls it off though I'll consider forgiving her for 'Click'.

2. It's set in Antarctica. My family tree is more of a palm tree than an oak. Meaning we only live in places that are warm and close to the equator (I'm somewhat the exception but it doesn't really snow very much in Van-City). Needless to say snow fascinates and at the same time freaks me out. So while the plot may seem something out of L&O:SVU the fact that this story takes place in a setting so foreign to most of us makes it incredibly intriguing.

3. The incredibly talented creators. Greg Rucka is definitely one of those writers whose work I compulsively collect because well...it always rocks. My love for Queen & Country could be a blog in it of itself. He writes emotionally complex, strong, and intelligent women so perfectly that a lot of times I forget he's a guy. And really that is one of the biggest compliments you can pay a comic book writer in my book.
And Steve Lieber's art is excellent from the emotional scenes to the action sequences. Lieber perfectly captures Carrie Stetko's emotions allowing the reader to understand exactly how she's feeling.

---

The film was directed by Dominic Sena whose last movie was Swordfish. I'd be lying if I said that I didn't enjoy that movie. But A LOT (read: ALL) of my love for that movie comes from Hugh Jackman. I mean seriously a movie where Hugh Jackman's character is introduced in a towel automatically gets two thumbs up from me.

No exact release date for the movie yet but it is scheduled for sometime in 2008.
Til then I'll just take comfort in my copy of Whiteout and Swordfish and hope for the best.

You'll be a better person if...you listen to Clint Mansell's score to The Fountain

There are some things in life that make you wonder how you lived life without it. Clint Mansell's musical score to pal Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain is one of those things. It's haunting yet thrilling but ultimately heartbreakingly beautiful (especially if you've see the film).

Even Hollywood seems to be taking notice since two December releases are currently using the music in their trailers.
Francis Lawrence's I Am Legend brilliantly (although briefly) uses "Death is the Road to Awe"[Clint Mansell - Death is the Road to Awe]. The title of the piece shadows the plot of the movie in which a vampiric virus causes the death of everyone on earth except for one man. Death is literally all around him from the deserted streets of Manhattan to the threat of death from vampires every night.

The Fountain's "Tree of Life" [Clint Mansell - Tree of Life] is being used in the trailer for Ridley Scott's Blade Runner: The Final Cut (which itself has an excellent score by Vangelis). Like the I am Legend trailer, the title of the piece conveys perfectly one of the major themes of Blade Runner- what constitutes a life. The film leads the viewer to ask themselves "What is it that makes us human?" and "Can only a human have a life and not just a lifespan?". Blade Runner's significant influence can be felt all over cinema and television. One notable descendant is Battlestar Galactica from the philosophical questions it prompts to its somber setting (especially when contrasted to its somewhat campy origin). And they both feature Edward James Olmos going after androids/replicants/skin jobs/cylons/toasters only to then let some of them go.

Both films have graphic novel adaptations available through Vertigo. I've especially been keen on The Fountain one in particular because of its beautiful paintings.

What You'll Be Getting Me For Christmas-A Sequential Tart Tote Bag

I'll be the first to admit that I love me a good tote bag. They're easy to carry, spacious, machine washable, and look better than a backpack. So when I saw that Sequential Tart had some tote bags with art work done by some of my favorite artists I knew that I'd be adding them to my Christmas list. It's really hard to pick my fave but I think I've got to go with Cameron Stewart's because he's captured pretty much exactly the way I read comics. Oh and it's very pretty.

A Perfect Holiday Gift Idea from Pop Colony-Dexter Killing Shirt

from Topheavyclothing.com
I love that the peeps at Top Heavy Clothing are aware of how hot Michael C. Hall looks when he's gettin' down to business on Dexter. Though I feel that this shirt should come with a warning-"Wearing this shirt will NOT give you Michael C. Hall's ripped torso". You know better safe than sorry.

[Why oh why doesn't it come with Michael C. Hall?]

Haiku Reviews for November 21st-Part 1

Ex-Machina #32
W:Brian K. Vaughan
A:Tony Harris

Ave Maria!
Papa don't preach anymore?
Next one ends the arc!






Angel: After the Fall #1
W:Brian Lynch
A:Franco Urru

It's finally here!
The whole gang is back sort of
Shocked and awesome!





She-Hulk #23
W:Peter David
A:Shawn Moll

Let's go to the mall!
Is She-Hulk buds with the Skrulls?
So much fun to boot